I Am Invincible two year-old King of Sparta was mixing it with some of the best two year olds in training during the autumn carnival, so always looked a good thing in a maiden at Randwick on Wednesday when returning as a gelding.
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, King of Sparta was doing himself no favours as a colt with fourth placed finishes in the Group II ATC Sliver Slipper and Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes indicating great ability, but a lack of commitment to the cause.
As a $700,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Yarraman Park draft for China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock/Starlight Racing, the decision to geld was not one taken lightly, but has clearly been the correct decision.
King of Sparta won both of his trials in preparation for his comeback today and produced a stellar turn of foot coming from off the pace to score a half neck win in the 1150m maiden over $1.1million Redoute’s Choice colt Military Expert with four lengths back to the next horse.
“He was just doing too many things wrong as a colt,” said Paul Snowden.
“I know he’ll pull up well as he was very forward coming here today, so we’ll just let the dust settle and he can progress from here.”
King of Sparta was bred by Yarraman Park in partnership and runs for a syndicate including Newgate Farm and China Horse Club, in whose colours he runs with Yarraman Park also retaining small share.
He is the third winner from Group III winning Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) mare Octavia, who is now back in foal to I Am Invincible after producing a filly by Zoustar last year.
King of Sparta was one of four metropolitan winners on Wednesday for I Am Invincible joining Skedaddle, Rosa Moyessi and Barragunda.
